Ajouter une intrigue dans votre langueCollege co-eds learn to handle the responsibilities of romance.College co-eds learn to handle the responsibilities of romance.College co-eds learn to handle the responsibilities of romance.
- Réalisation
- Scénario
- Casting principal
- Récompenses
- 5 victoires au total
- Asst. Dist. Atty. Gifford
- (non crédité)
- Student
- (non crédité)
- Student at Dormitory
- (non crédité)
- Doctor
- (non crédité)
- Junior - A Student)
- (non crédité)
- Confused Student in Cafe
- (non crédité)
- Student at Dormitory
- (non crédité)
- Student at Dormitory
- (non crédité)
Avis à la une
The story's not bad either, as two young college students try to navigate a society that's quite a bit different than when their parents were their age. (This movie is from 1931, so Mom and Dad were probably college age in the 1900's, so that says a lot.) Betty's an old-fashioned girl who thinks she should be more modern, while Michael wants to hold onto traditional values and ideals, despite pressure and temptation.
When a modern mistake is made, an old-fashioned correction seems in order, which may ruin the couple's chance for happiness.
There is also educational/life choice issues: is it okay to leave college and get a job, start your adult life a bit sooner than planned, even if it means postponing or giving a degree and career goals, if you have what you believe is a valid reason for doing so?
This movie has a bittersweet ending, and I could have done without the bitter, as a character of questionable ethics shows himself to be a better person and deserved a better fate.
Worth watching.
A stone bench on campus is the second clue to the serious ideas this film explores. "In loco parentis" is a Latin phrase meaning "in the place of a parent" and it is a concept regarding the (if you will, fiduciary) legal role of a college, upon accepting a student in its care, to assume some responsibilities of a parent and, therefore, some legal liabilities. That phrase is carved into this bench, where we see Professor David Matthews (John Halliday) offer parental advice and comfort to student Mike Harvey (Richard Cromwell).
Both legal concepts figure heavily in the story. The campus is a seemingly idyllic setting where students can exist in an ivory tower, away from the harsh realities of the outside world, to explore controversial and abstract ideas, like free love. But innocence resides there with burgeoning passions and the difficulties they present.
The moral relativism that many feared would result from abstract ideas and newer scientific principles, e.g. Darwinism and a revised astronomical view of man's place in the universe, come head to head with the "older" moral certainties of absolutism and church dogma. Will love find a place in the crossfire?
This film features good, sparkling dialogue and some excellent acting. The ending may be a surprise for many viewers.
All of this angst leads Mike to drink heavily one night and fall for the charms of local waitress Dora Swale. Dora is OK with the fact that this is a one night stand, but just as Mike is getting ready to leave her house, Dora's dad appears, and he is not at all happy about the situation.
If this seems very frank and daring for 1932, it is. There are no big name stars in this film. The biggest name is John Halliday as Professor David Matthews who acts as a father figure to Mike, even though he is given to handing out confusing advice. He and Barbara act as an analog for the possible future Mike and Betty - they were in love and waited to finish their education. After graduation they found that there was nothing to pick up where they had left off, and are now heading into middle age alone. The best lines go to Arline Judge as Dora. She doesn't look like her, but Arline's voice, her movements, and definitely her attitude are precode Stanwyck.
I've already mentioned how things stay the same - the hormonal challenges of late adolescence/early adulthood. How things have changed is the lesson this film seems to teach - that college is optional and even a possible obstacle in seeking true happiness, and maybe it was in 1932 when people married earlier and needed less skill to make a living wage. Today, however, it is an essential rite of passage to a middle class lifestyle, and even then there are no guarantees.
The Age Of Consent began as a play called Cross Roads which had the misfortune of opening on Broadway within two weeks of the Stock Market crash. After that Broadway closed a lot of shows because folks couldn't afford the theater. Cross Roads only ran 28 performances and Franchot Tone and Sylvia Sidney were in the supporting roles that Eric Linden and Arline Judge play on the screen.
The leads are Richard Cromwell and Dorothy Wilson who are in love and going through a lot of angst. Dorothy's a good kid who doesn't want to give it up before she has a wedding ring on her finger. Richard's even ready to quit school. But when she says no he goes off with the local waitress at the college hangout Arline Judge.
Catching him alone with his daughter puritanical dad Richard Barlow says no one is going to disgrace my daughter, marry her or else because she's still a minor. Poor Cromwell sees his whole life slipping away, all the plans he had for his future, just gone up in smoke.
It all kind of works out for most of the cast. John Halliday is her as the wise science professor who acts as mentor and father figure to the college kids. Barlow's part is interesting his type is still around today, ignorant and proud of it. Look for a young Betty Grable as one of the coeds.
It's an interesting story and typical of the times. But thank God we seem to have moved away from the attitudes expressed by Barlow in The Age Of Consent.
Le saviez-vous
- AnecdotesThe mention of the Jericho Turnpike places the setting as being on Long Island, New York. State Route 25 is known at the Jericho Turnpike for most of its length across Long Island.
- Gaffes(at around 28 mins) When Betty lays back after Mike kisses her, the ground can be seen moving under her head when she moves.
- Citations
Dora Swale: [as Mike enters the restaurant where she is a waitress] Hello, pollywog.
Michael 'Mike' Harvey: Hello, Dora.
[while looking for an empty booth to sit in, he overhears a couple talking loudly]
Unseen Female I: Whaddyou care if they're sharp or not? You can rub your beard off with a towel.
Unseen Male I: Wait'll you start to shave. Alright, alright, what about free love?
Unseen Female I: There's nothing free about MY love, Romeo. Just remember that.
Unseen Male I: You for sale?
Unseen Female I: Let's broaden the conversation.
Unseen Male I: When I get on a subject I like to stay with it. Hey, how about that butter?
[Disgusted with what he's hearing Mike gets up and moves to a different booth]
Unseen Female II: Stop it!
Unseen Male II: [Brays stupidly] I'm gonna find out things for myself. How do I know? Ya may be knock-kneed.
[Brays again]
Unseen Female II: I thoughtcha came to college to develop your brain.
Unseen Male II: Aw, who cares about brains? I come from a long line of people who work with their hands.
[Brays yet again, and we hear a slap]
Unseen Male II: Alright, alright, whaddya wanna talk about?
[Girl giggles incessantly]
Unseen Male II: That's not so funny.
[Mike rolls his eyes and moves a second time]
Dora Swale: Are you working out for the track team or is this a new game?
Michael 'Mike' Harvey: I don't like free love with my meals.
Boy in next booth: Trouble is with you, you're old fashioned.
Girl in next booth: Maybe so, but what was good enough for my grandmother is good enough for me.
[She picks up her purse and starts to leave]
Boy in next booth: Well I don't want to be honorable with you unless it's absolutely necessary.
Girl in next booth: I'll call ya up sometime when I break training.
[laughs and walks out]
Michael 'Mike' Harvey: Don't they ever talk about anything else?
Dora Swale: What else is there to talk about? How about somethin' to eat?
Michael 'Mike' Harvey: Oh, I don't know what I want.
Dora Swale: Gimme three guesses?
Michael 'Mike' Harvey: People ever talk about marriage any more?
Dora Swale: Some of the older people.
Michael 'Mike' Harvey: Why don't you get married? What do you hang around a dump like this for?
Dora Swale: Scrambled eggs are nice.
- Bandes originalesParadise
(1931) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Nacio Herb Brown and Gordon Clifford
Played at the dance and danced by Dorothy Wilson and Eric Linden and other couples
Meilleurs choix
Détails
Box-office
- Budget
- 125 000 $US (estimé)
- Durée
- 1h 3min(63 min)
- Couleur
- Rapport de forme
- 1.37 : 1